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Food Labeled as Humane Growing in Popularity

One of the hottest trends right now in food marketing is informing consumers that the animal product they are purchasing was derived from an animal that was humanely raised and treated.This includes, dairy, eggs, poultry, beef, pork, and other meats.

Since there is no FDA definition for “humane”, each processor is free to associate this and similar terms with its products. As a result, factory farms have magically become animal friendly. And “no antibiotics” conjures an idealic Garden of Eden for bovines. The truth, of course, is far from that.

What’s an ethical shopper, or one attempting to lessen the plight of lower beings, to do?

What you need to know:

Luckily the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has information to help you make decisions. Their website categorizes the various humane labels based on their REAL humaneness, not marketing. While “cage free” eggs are a good option, this label does not mean the chickens were free range. Also, it is not verified by a third party. A better option is “Certified Organic”. The best labels are the following:

Unfortunately for consumers and animals, humane foods tend to cost more, especially the organic variety. For many people there is a clash between the will to eat more humanely and their pocketbooks. Each family should decide what works best for them, but at least you should be informed about what you are or aren’t getting.

The ONLY true ‘humane option’ is veganism. Anything else involves exploitation, which can never be sanitized nor made humane, irrespective of the silly titles employed to help people feel less guilty about their continued unnecessary and unjustified consumption of nonhuman animal products.

Those who fight against the movement to improve the lives of animals whose bodies are used as a food source are adding to their suffering. As a vegetarian, I absolutely support this movement along the progression to a more enlightened society. It’s a shame that so many of those purporting to be concerned about the welfare of animals are not, and have instead aligned with the factory farms in actively working to ensure the inhumane treatment of food animals continues unabated.